BYU Cougars vs. Utah Utes Betting Odds - Point Spread Pick

BYU Cougars vs. Utah Utes Betting Odds - Point Spread Pick

David Schwab
Date: December 19, 3:30 pm
Location: Sam Boyd Stadium

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Utah -3
Total: 54

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BYU went 9-3 straight-up in the regular season with an 8-4 record against the spread. It won seven of its last eight games down the stretch while covering in five of those contests. Following a 51-28 romp over Utah State on Nov. 28 as a three-point road favorite, the total has gone OVER in three of its last five games after going OVER the 51-point closing line in that contest.
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Tanner Mangum has led the Cougars' offense this season at quarterback and on the year he has thrown for 3,062 yards and 21 touchdowns. Algernon Brown was their leading rusher with 697 yards and 11 scores on 122 attempts. Overall, the team was ranked 21st in the nation in passing yards with an average of 294.9 on the year, but it fell way down the list when it came to rushing with a 133.1 yard average. BYU averaged 37 points a game, which was tied for 16th in the country and on defense it held opposing teams to just 21.8 points, which was tied for 31st.
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Utah's fast 6-0 SU start had the team right in the mix for a shot at winning the Pac-12 title, but losses to USC, Arizona and UCLA ended that run. The Utes ended the season 9-3 SU with a 5-7 record ATS. They failed to cover in five of their last six games. In a 20-14 win against Colorado as heavy 16.5-point home favorites in their final game of the season, the total stayed well UNDER the 48.5-point closing line. It has now stayed UNDER in three of their last five games.
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The Utes' offense did most of its damage on the ground with an average of 187.8 rushing yards a game. Devontae Booker led the way with 1,261 yards and 11 touchdown runs on 268 carries. Unfortunately a leg injury cut his season short, but Utah got a solid effort out of quarterback Travis Wilson with 466 rushing yards and six scores to go along with his 2,024 yards passing. Defensively, the Utes matchup perfectly with BYU with a points-allowed average of 21.8.
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BYU Cougars vs. Utah Utes Game Betting Trends
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The Cougars are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games played in December and the total has stayed UNDER in four of their last five games played at a neutral site.
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The Utes are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 bowl games and they are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games against a team with a SU winning record. The total has stayed UNDER in four of their last five nonconference games.
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Head-to-head in this matchup, the underdog is 14-3 ATS in the last 17 meetings and Utah has gone 5-1 ATS in the last six games between the two teams.
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BYU Cougars vs. Utah Utes Prediction

These are two teams that remain extremely familiar with one another, but the edge in this matchup goes to BYU in my book. It comes in with the hotter hand with a nice run down the stretch and I have to wonder just how motivated Utah will be given the high expectation level it had for this season following that 6-0 start. Take the three points and the Cougars in this one.

Free Pick: Take the BYU Cougars +3 (DS)
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